Empowering People through BrainWise
Posted On: May 17, 2025Caring, respectful, and committed are words that define the CAPSA staff who teach BrainWise to children and women as they rebuild their lives following traumatic experiences, including domestic violence and rape. Founded in 1976 by concerned citizens in Logan, Utah, the organization provided direct services to 1,551 clients in 2024 and delivered community education to 30,533 participants that same year.
The CAPSA team, Brenna Scribner, Abi Van Wagenen & Hailey Olsen, praised BrainWise for effectively teaching about the brain and critical thinking skills, noting that its approach helps their diverse range of clients discuss behaviors and emotions.
Their staff can easily adapt it to numerous teaching environments serving children and adults – schools, after-school programs, community centers, libraries, residential housing, and transitional housing.
CAPSA’s teams face challenges offering the 40-50 hours recommended for retention of BrainWise due to the varying durations of their interactions, which range from brief encounters to daily engagements lasting several months. While they effectively teach and reinforce each “Wise Way” with many individuals, their efforts are occasionally limited by the time available for instruction. As a result, they adapt their approach to emphasize key concepts within the time allotted.
Regardless of the teaching environment, CAPSA staff find that BrainWise consistently sparks enthusiasm and eagerness to learn and say even brief encounters leave a lasting impression. For example, children often remember key concepts like the “Wizard Brain” and “Lizard Brain,” eagerly pointing to the corresponding areas on their heads. One instructor remarked, “It shows that they remember, even when they haven’t spent much time with us.”
Crafts as Teaching Tools
The instructors find their interactions especially rewarding as the children are excited to see them and eagerly demonstrate how they apply the skills they’ve learned..
Children who learn BrainWise in after-school programs want to have fun, and instructors approach this group differently from those they teach during school by incorporating more crafts and activities as teaching tools. They expand on the activities in the curriculum and also create their own.
Adults Use BrainWise.
CAPSA also serves male and female adult clients and finds BrainWise benefits them, including improving their parenting skills. The staff said they themselves also use the program and shared its ripple effect beyond work:
- “BrainWise helps me understand my own reactions and emotions – I suddenly understood problems and wish I had learned these skills when I was younger.”
- “I love how easy BrainWise is to understand. I share it with my husband, mom, and family, telling them this is how problem-solving works.”
When asked to share their thoughts about BrainWise they said, “BrainWise fosters resilience, provides a strong foundation for emotional regulation, and teaches critical thinking skills necessary to overcome trauma. It is easy to use and can be tailored for various group needs, making it an invaluable tool for breaking cycles of trauma and unhealthy behaviors. If you are seeking a program that truly makes a difference, BrainWise is a great choice!”
Read more about CAPSA’s creative approach in teaching BrainWise at: https://conta.cc/4jhkujR
